Using Data Visualization Software (Tableau) to Enhance Data
Dissemination
Deborah Fyler/Marin Clarkberg
Institutional Research and Planning
Cornell University
Nov 2013 http://irp.dpb.cornell.edu/neair-meeting-in-newport-nov-2013

Overview- A tour of Cornell IR use of Tableau
• About Tableau
• The Cornell Factbook (with a little history)
• Surveys
• Strategic metrics
• Demo using IPEDS data and Tableau

About Tableau
NOT a spreadsheet program, not a statistical package – can’t run regressions
IS an efficient way to produce mountains of beautiful interactive tables and charts
(maps, line, heatmaps, dashboards, word clouds, etc.) and put them on websites.
• You can customize colors, perform calculations and add annotations.
• Don’t need to create endless variations of reports (e.g. a report for every department)
• Data consumers can find the data they need easily and without training, and they can slice and dice their data.
• Trends become apparent with easy-to-produce graphs.
• Reports can be designed by existing IR staff who know the data well and understand reporting needs. Minimal training needed. Don’t need IT experts.
• Access can be finely controlled (public/IR staff/deans/VPs)

The University Fact Book
• The Old Way (pre computers and on the web)
• The Migration http://irp.dpb.cornell.edu/university-factbook/factbook-archives

The University Fact Book
• The Old Way (pre computers and on the web)
• The Migration – changing practice

Cornell Examples
1.
http://irp.dpb.cornell.edu/ Enrollment since 1868

Cornell Examples
1. Factbook http://irp.dpb.cornell.edu/university-factbook/quick-facts (four data sources) http://irp.dpb.cornell.edu/university-factbook
2. Surveys http://irp.dpb.cornell.edu/surveys
New Student: http://irp.dpb.cornell.edu/tableau_visual/2013-new-student-survey
3. Strategic Metrics http://irp.dpb.cornell.edu/strategic-metrics

IPEDS demo http://public.tableausoftware.com/views/FinAidFTFTIPEDS/Dashboard1?:embed=y&:display_count=no

Our Website
• Website created in Wordpress in 2012
• IR maintains; we can add new pages and graphs)
• Structured to allow in-line (in page) Tableau viz (size is specific)
• Icon with link to another page (viz) that is template-ed to contain a specific size
• And… we also have website links to our secured Tableau server.
Google Analytics: https://tableau.dpb.cornell.edu/t/IRP/views/Websiteanalyticstest/Overall?:embed=y&:display_count=no
This presentation: http://irp.dpb.cornell.edu/neair-meeting-in-newport-nov-2013

http://ryrobes.com/visual-analytics-and-data-porn/between-crazy-genius-bigfoot-aliens-together-at-last
/

For more information please contact:
Deborah Fyler (factbook) djf5@cornell.edu
Will Searle (surveys) wrs77@cornell.edu
Marin Clarkberg (director) mec30@cornell.edu